Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light

Concept:Dropping the Tomb Raider moniker, Crystal Dynamics changes the equation with a new camera and co-op play neatly wrapped in a -downloadable -package

Graphics:Employing the Tomb Raider Underworld engine, the environments, lighting effects, and character renders are as polished as their -big-budget -counterparts

Sound:Populated with both iconic and original music, the former grounds the game in familiarity while the latter plays up the new, action-centric direction. Some of the voice acting could use another -once-over, -though

Playability:Despite the arcade influences, Lara’s moveset isn’t reduced in the slightest. Co-op play allows for more diversity in puzzle solving, and the analog shooting lends itself nicely to -frenzied -combat

Entertainment:Balancing the franchise pillars – exploration, puzzles, and platforming – with the new combat-centric focus is both engaging and entertaining. Even when solving puzzles, downtime is rare